Beam counterbalance



Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNliTED STATES PATENT oFFIeE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a beam counterbalance, particularly for oil wells, and the prime object of my invention is to provide a novel counterbalance which will effectively sustain the static weight of the rods, the pump and the fluid in the well.

Another object is to provide a counterbalance which can be quickly and easily adjusted to vary the counterbalancing weight or force, depending on varying conditions in the well.

Still another object is to provide a counterbalance which is so arranged that the beam is free when it is desired to work upon the well.

Gther objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description, and the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure l is a side elevation of a beam with my counterbalance in position thereon.

Figure 2 is. an end view of the same.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one of the spring assemblies with parts broken away to show interior construction.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the beam showing one of the adjustable couplings.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l indicates a walking beam of usual and Well known construction which is pivotally mounted on top of a post 2. The post rises from the floor of the derrick and is supported in the usual and well known way.

The polish rod 3 is attached to o-ne end of the beam I and the reciprocating mechanism (not shown) is attached to the other end of the beam. A frame l rises from the oor of the derrick and straddles the beam I. This frame is rigidly supported by suitable braces 5, or the like, which extend from the post 2.

A pair of arms E5 are pivotally secured tol the top of the frame 4, and a spring assembly 'I is pivotally attached to one end of the arms 6 while a spring assembly 8 is pivotally attached to. the other end of the arms 6. Each of the spring assemblies l, 8 is attached adjacent one end of the beam I, as will be further described.

A rocker arm 9 straddles the post 2 and is pivotally mounted upon a horizontal pin I. A shaft I I is mounted adjacent to the post 2 and parallel thereto, for the purpose of supporting the rocker arm S. This shaft is threaded thru the pin E!) and also thru a block I2 which is secured to the post 2. It will be evident that when the shaft Il is rotated, the rocker arm 9 can be raised or lowered vertically. Guide plates I3 are attached to the post 2 for the purpose of guiding the pin Iii as it is adjusted up or down.

A spring assembly I4 is pivotally attached to one end of the rocker arm 9 and to the frame A spring assembly l5 is pivotally attached to the 5 other end of the rocker arm 9 and to the beam i adjacent the crank arm end of said beam. The spring assemblies l', 8 and IA, i5 are identical in construction, and only one will be described in detail. l0

A cylinder I6 is provided with a head Il at the upper endthereof and integrally formed trunnions I8, I8 project from the head i1. The trunnions i8, la extend into the various members, as previously described, thereby pivoting the cyl- 15 inder I6 to permit the required swinging movement. A cap i9 closes the lower end of the cylinder le. A coil spring 2i) rests against the cap I9 at the bottom and against a piston 2| at the top. A connecting rod 22 is attached to the pis- 20 ton 2| and extends downwardly thru the cap I9. Suitable linkage 23 couples the connecting rod 22 and a pair of links 24.

The construction of the spring assembly 'l is now described in detail. The lower ends of the 25 links 24 are pivotally secured to a transverse pin 25. This pin is guided between plates 25 which are secured tothe bottom of the beam I. A turn buckle 27 is threaded thru the pin 25 and thru a stationery block 23. Thus, the pin 25 can be 30 adjusted horizontally upon the beam I. The spring assembly 8 may be attached to the beam I ley-means of a bolt 29, substantially as shown.

The spring assembly Iii. is pivotally mounted upon the frame 4 by means of trunnions I8, I8 35 and the connecting rod thereof is fixed to a pin 3B which is journaled in the rocker arms 9.

The spring assembly I5 has a pair of links 3| journaled at one end on the trunnions I8. At the other end, these links are journaled on a pin 32. 40 The pin 32 is guided between straps 33 which are attached to the top of the be'am I. A turn buckle 34 is threaded thru the pin 32 and thru a stationary block 35. Thus, the pin 32 can be adjusted horizontally upon the beam I. As the load 45 Varies upon the beam I, the points of connection of the various spring assemblies on the beam I can be adjusted, and the rocker arms 9 can be raised or lowered to vary the tension on the springs of the spring assemblies, I4, I5. 50

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A counterbalance for walking beams comprising a frame adjacent the walking beam, spring means secured at one end to the frame and at the other end to the walking beam, a rocker 55 arm, vmeans pivotally mounting the rocker arm, spring means attached tothe frame and to one end of the rocker arm, another spring means at- 'tached to the other end of the rocker arm and to the beam.

2. A counterbalance for walking beams comprising a frame adjacent the beam, a spring assembly attached to the upper end of the frame, means adjustably securing said spring assembly to the Walking beam, a rocker arm, means pivotally mounting the rocker arm below the beam, and a spring assembly attached to the frame and to one end of the rocker arm, a third spring assembly attached Vto the other end of said rocker arm, and means adjustably attachingV said third spring assembly to the walking beam.

3. A counterbalance for walking beams comprising a frame adjacent the beam, a spring assembly attached to the upper end of the frame., means adjustably securing said spring assembly `to the walking beam, a rocker arm, means pivotally mounting the rocker arm below the beam, means vertically adjusting the pivot means for the rocker arm, a spring assembly attached to the frame and to one end of the rocker arm, a third spring assembly attached to the other end of said rocker arm, and means adjustably attaching said third spring assembly to the walking beam.

4. A counterbalance for walking beams com-Y sembly pivotally attached to the other end of the rocker armand to the walking beam.

Y 5. A counterbalance for walking beams comprising a vertical frame straddling the walking beam, a pair of arms pivotally attached to the top of the frame, a spring assembly pivotally attached to each end of said arms, means securingboth ofsaid spring assemblies to one end of the beam, a rocker arm below the beam, means pivotally supporting the rocker arm, a spring assembly pivotally attached to one end of the rocker Varm and to the frame, a fourth spring assembly pivotally attached to the other end of the rocker arm and to the Walking beam, each of said spring assemblies including a cylinder, a coil spring in the cylinder and a connecting rod projecting from the cylinder, the coil spring bearing against the connecting rod and urging Ythe same into the cylinder.

6. A counterbalance for walking beams c omprising a frame straddling the walking beam, a spring assembly including a cylinder, trunnions on the cylinder, a coil spring in the cylinder, a connecting rod projecting from the cylinder, said coil spring bearing against the connecting rod, means journaling the trunnions adjacent the top of the frame, a pin, means adjustably mounting said pin on the walking beam, a pair of links journaled on the pin, linkage means connecting said links and 'the connecting rod, a rocker arm, means pivotally supporting the rocker arm below the walking beam, a spring assembly pivotally attached to one end ofY the rocker arm and to the frame, another spring assembly pivotally attached to the other end of the rocker arm, and means adjustably attaching said last named spring assemblyto the beam.

ELI L. FLEMING. 

